Auxiliary apparatus for cooling systems



Nov. 4 192.4.

. W. R. SMITH AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR COOLING SYSTEMS Filed Jan. l2 1922Patented Nov, 4, 1924o "UNITED STATES 'WILLIAIM R. SMITH, 0F LOS ANGELS,CALIFORNIA..

AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR COOLING SYSTEMS.

Application led January. 12, 1922. Serial No. 528,659.

To @ZZ 'whom t may concern Be it knownthat I, INILLIAM R. SMITH, acitizen ofthe United States, Aresiding at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Auxiliary Apparatus for Cooling Systems, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates 't0 cooling systems for automobile internalcombustion engines, and the purpose of my Ainvention is the provision ofan apparatus kadapted for association with any cooling system ofstandard construction which operates to collect all water and steamordinarily expelled from the radiator and to cool the water so collectedand return the same to the cooling system whereby, the coolingeiiiciency of the steam is greatly increased and lwithout the loss ofwater.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a cooling apparatuswhichv can be employed to effect an injection of water from an exteriorsource into the system and in such manner as to eliminate the necessityof removing the radiator cap.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and willthen point out the novel `features thereof in claims.

In theaccompanying drawings,

Figure 1 isa view showing in side elevation a cooling system forautomobile engines having applied thereto one form of apparatusembodying my invention.

Figure'2 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the condensingtank comprised in the apparatus lshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 'is a top plan view of the tank shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tank shownin AFigure 2.

Figure 5 isa detail view partly in Vsection showing one form of waterlevel indicator embodying my invention and comprised in the apparatusshown in Figure 1.

Similar reference characters'refer to similar parts'in each of thevseveral views.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, myinvention in its present embodiment comprises a water collecting 4andsteam condensing tank designated generally at T, and which is adapted tobe supported at the forward end 'of an internal combustion engine shownVdiagrammatic'ally and indicated at E in Figure 1, by means of a bracketB so as to rigidly support the tank between a radiator It and -theengine E. The upper end of the ltank Tis provided with a cover 15 formedwith a suitable opening to receive a short section of pipe 16 connectedto a union 17, with the latter in turn in communication with a flexiblepipe 18. The upper end of the l,latter is connected to the radiator Rata point adjacent its upper end as indicated at. 19 so that excesswater and steam from the radiator can pass downwardly through the pipes18 and 16 into the tank T. The water and steam entering the tank T passinto a tubular member 2O having itslower end open and provided withperforations 21 adjacent the lower end and through which water passesinto the tank at a point iadjacent the bottom thereof. The lower end ofthe tank T is adapted to communicate with a pipe `P constituting a partof the usual cooling system for an internal combustion engine, through apipe 22 connected at its upper end to a T 23, with the latter in turnconnected to a short section of pipe 24 which communicates with thelower end of the tank T. The T 23 carries a petcock 25 by means of whichthe tank can be drained from time to time to effect removal of sedimentand other foreign matter. The lower end of the pipe 22 is connected tothe pipe P as clearly shown in Figure 1, and in the vertical portion ofthe pipe 22 a valve 26 isprovided having an operating arm 27 connectedthereto for effecting a closing or opening of the valve'to connect ordisconnect the tank T from the pipe I). To effect a manual operation-ofthe valve 26, a flexible cable 28 is connected at one end to the free`end of the arm 27, and at its opposite end to a handle or button 29disposed on the instrument board 'of an automobile and in convenientposition to allow the manual operation thereof in eifecting actuationofthe arm 27. The spring 30 is connected to the free end of the arm 27 andto a split ring 31 embracing the pipe P, this spring serving to normallyurge the arm 27 to a position in which the valve 26 is closed. Theoperation of the cable 28 will therefore be in opposition to the spring30 so that when the valve 26 is moved to open position by pulling on thebutton 29, the spring 30 will operate to close the valve when the buttonis released.

As in the usual cooling system for internal combustion engines, the pipeP serves to connect the radiator R `with* a pump M,

the latter serving to constantly circulate the water through the coolingsystem. In conjunction with the usual cooling system a fan F is employeddirectly behind the radiator R, and by consideration of Figure 1v itwill be clear that the arrangement of the tank T is such that it isdisposed lrearwardly of the fan F so as to be within the draft of aircreated by the fan rearwardly through the radiator.

Referring to Figure 2, theftank T contains an indicator for indicatingthe amount of water contained within the tank. This indicator in thepresent instance comprises a rod 32 t0 the lower end of which is sccureda float 33, while its upper end is provided with a plug 34 threadedlytted within a collar 35 secured to the top 15. The upper end of the rod32A extends through a suitable opening formed within the cover 15 sothat when the plug 34 is disengaged from the collarl 35, the float 33will be free to movethe rod vertically so as to indicate the exact levelof water within the tank.

To allow of an overflow from the tank T should it become completelyfilled with water, 1an overflow pipe 36 is provided which, as Vshown inFigure 2, is extended vertically within the tank with its lower endsecured within the bottom of the tank as shown. ltsI upper end carries acap 37 of-tubular form and which is secured to the pipe so as to providea passage-way 38 through whichthe water passes in entering the upper endof the pipe. The upper end of the cap 37 is perforated as shown toprevent the forming of a Siphon in the pipe and cap/'For the purpose ofpreventing splashing and undue movement of the water within the tank afloat 39 is arranged within the tank in the manner shown 'in Figure 2,with the float formed with suitable openings to allow of itsunrestricted movement with respect tothe cap 37 and the rod 32.

.As shown in Figure 4, the'cover 15 is provided with a filling` cap 40through which the tank canbe filled with water, as it is desirable inpractice to partially fill the tank and to thus 'carry an auxiliarysupply of water. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cover 1-5 is alsoprovided with'a vent open- :1 ing 41 which allows of the propercirculation of air into andv outof the tank, as will be understood. i

In'Figures 1 and 5 l have shown one form of water level indicatoradaptedfor use in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Figure 1.lThis'indicator comprises a casing442 sustained on a radiator cap 43 andprovided with a central opening 44 which is 11i communication with atubularmember 45. The member 45 is adapted toV extend .into the radiatorwhen the cap 43 is in appliedposition and to thus allow the passage ofwater upwardly into the opening 44 where it enters a -transparent tube45 for lifting a ball 46 to indicate the level of water within theradiator. The upper end of the tube 45 is provided with an opening 45a,and the upper end of the casing 42 is likewise provided with an opening47. These openings 45a and 47 allow of the passage of air into and outof the tube 45 to effect the proper operation of the ball 46 under theVaction of the water. Although I have spev cifically described aparticular` form of water level indicator, it is to be understood thatany form of indicator can be employed in vconjunction with the apparatusshown in Figure 1.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As previouslystated, thetank T is partially filled with water through the filling cap 40. lViththe tank T connected to the radiator R and the pipe P in the mannershown3 it will be vclear that any overflow 0f water from the radiator Ror any steam as the result of excessive heating of water in the coolingsystem, will all pass fromy the radiator through the pipey 18 and to thetank T, the tubular member 20 serving to system. and should this bebelow a prescribed level; the water. in the'tanki'lcan be supplied tothe'cooling systeml byfan opening of the valve 26, thus restoring thenormal supply of water contained in the cooling syste f From theforegoing operation, it will be manifest that the apparatus operates tocon.-

serve the wateroriginally supplied to ther cooling system and to collectand coolwater and steam expelled from the radiator. ;This obviouslveliminates thel necessity of stopping to fill the radiator'with waterfroml time to time and the disadvantages attendant thereto. f

In Figure 1I have shown a vertical portion of the pipe 22 provided witha manually operated valve 48 and a flexible pipe or hose 49 connected tothe pipe between the valves 26 and 48. Thepipe 49 is adapted to extendto a remote point for connection with Va source of waterv supply such astheusual auxiliary water tank Ycarriedupon the ruiming board of anautomobile. The pipe 49 is'also provided with a valve 50. Inoperationpthe valve 48 is 'closed and the valve 50- opened, and when thevalve 26 is moved to epen'posivm misere tion and with the pump M inoperation, the suction created in the pipe 22 by the circulation ofwater in the cooling system can be utilized to create a suction withinthe pipe 4.9 and thereby draw the water from the source of supply intothe cooling system, This eliminates the trouble of iilling the tank Tfrom time to time through the filling cap 40.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of auxiliarycooling apparatus embodying my invention it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made herein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope ot' theappended claims.

That I claim is:

l. In combination, a cooling system for internal combustion enginesincluding a radiator, a pump, and a pipe connecting the pump with theradiator, a pipe extension formed on said pipe including a flexiblesection adapted to extend to a remote source of water supply, and avalve in the pipe extension so that additional water may be drawn intothe system by attaching the flexible pipe section to a source of watersupply and opening the valve.

2. In combination7 a cooling system for internal combustion enginesincluding a radiator, a fan wheel, a pump and a pipe connecting the pumpwith the bottom of the radiator, an auxiliary cooling apparatuscomprising a tank arranged in the rear of the radiator and ian wheel andconnected with the top of the radiator, valve controlled means forconnecting the tank at its bottom to said pipe, and a pipe connected tosaid means for the purpose described.

3. In combination, a cooling system for internal combustion enginesincluding a radiator, a lian wheel, a pump and a pipe connecting thepump with the bottom of the radiator, an auxiliary cooling apparatusco1nprising a tank arranged in the rear of the radiator and fan wheeland connected with the top of the radiator, valve controlled means forconnecting the tank at its bottom to said connecting pipe, a iillingpipe oonnected to said means at a point below the valve of said means,and a second Valve between said irst valve and connecting pipe.

el. rin auxiliary cooling system Combined with a radiator and areturnpipe and comprising a tank, means for connecting the tank to the head ofa radiator, a pipe in communication with the bottom of the tank andadapted for connection to the return pipe of a radiator, a second pipeadapted for' connection with a source of water supply and connected tothe first pipe, a Valve in the second pipe, and two Valves in the irstpipe at opposite sides of the connection with the second pipe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

WILLIAM R. SMITH.

